Automated machine and method for producing multiple cups of coffee

• US 10,143,331 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steady Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Steady Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Heys, Stuart, Sibenac, Mark, von Muehlen, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US15/791,013
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 99298, 99300
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/521 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a computer or a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5255 of flow rate

Abstract

A coffee maker efficiently automates the process of pour-over coffee brewing by employing a computer system that controls how and when hot water is dispensed into a coffee filter. The computer system controls a mechanism that pulls a nozzle back and forth along a linear track, and rotates the linear track. A user generally puts a coffee filter in place and then pushes a button on the computer system once to allow the system to wet the coffee filter. Then the user could put coffee grounds into the coffee filter and push the button again to allow the system to lightly wet the surface of the coffee grounds. The user could then place the coffee cup underneath the filter and push the button a third time to allow coffee to be slowly brewed as spirals of hot water are dispensed on the coffee grounds.

Claims

1. A method for brewing multiple beverages comprising:

providing a first brewing station under a first portion of a rail and a second brewing station under a second portion of the rail;

initiating a brewing cycle for brewing a beverage at the first brewing station;

directing a nozzle on the rail to dispense an initial dispensation of fluid towards the first brewing station;

moving the nozzle along the rail such that it is directed towards the second brewing station;

directing the nozzle to dispense an initial dispensation of fluid to the second brewing station;

moving the nozzle along the rail such that it is directed towards the first brewing station;

directing the nozzle to dispense a second dispensation of fluid to the first brewing station; and

concluding the brewing cycle,

wherein the brewing cycle results in a first discrete beverage of the multiple beverages associated with the first brewing station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the nozzle to direct it at different locations within the corresponding brewing station during at least one of the initial and second dispensations of fluid.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeatedly moving the nozzle along the rail between the first and second brewing stations and repeatedly dispensing fluid until each of the first and second brewing stations have received three dispensations of fluid, wherein the three dispensations of fluid at each of the brewing stations is prior to concluding the brewing cycle.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the third dispensation of fluid received by each brewing station comprises a plurality of pours.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the adjusting of the nozzle is to trace a defined pattern for the corresponding dispensation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each brewing station is or is provided with a beverage filter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the nozzle is by rotating the rail, and wherein the rail is linear.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing or length of each dispensation of fluid is controlled by a recipe.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a first recipe may be applied to the first brewing station and a second recipe distinct from the first recipe may be applied to the second brewing station.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first recipe is for coffee and the second recipe is for tea.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first recipe is for a first serving size and the second recipe is for a second serving size.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first recipe is for a first coffee type and the second recipe is for a second coffee type.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein an ordering of a sequence of dispensations for the first and second brewing station is determined based on the first recipe and the second recipe identified.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing at least a third brewing station, and wherein a third recipe distinct from the first or second recipes may be applied to the third brewing station.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the recipe is drawn from a database comprising a plurality of selectable recipes, and wherein such recipes may be selectable by customers using a smartphone application.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing a beverage filter at the first brewing station prior to the corresponding initial dispensation of fluid and adding a brewable substance to the filter after the initial dispensation and prior to the second dispensation for the corresponding brewing station.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the brewable substance is coffee.

18. A method for brewing multiple beverages comprising:

providing a first brewing station and a second brewing station, each reachable by a movable nozzle;

initiating a brewing cycle for brewing a beverage at the first brewing station;

locating the movable nozzle to dispense an initial dispensation of fluid towards the first brewing station;

moving the movable nozzle such that it is directed towards the second brewing station;

directing the movable nozzle to dispense an initial dispensation of fluid towards the second brewing station;

moving the nozzle such that it is directed towards the first brewing station;

directing the nozzle to dispense a second dispensation of fluid to the first brewing station; and

concluding the brewing cycle,

wherein the brewing cycle results in a first discrete beverage of the multiple beverages associated with the first brewing station.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the nozzle to direct it at different locations within the corresponding brewing station during at least one of the initial and second dispensations of fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising repeatedly moving the nozzle between the first and second brewing stations and repeatedly dispensing fluid until each of the first and second brewing stations have received three dispensations of fluid, wherein the three dispensations of fluid at each of the first and second brewing stations are prior to concluding the brewing cycle.